The great news in the fight against COVID-19 according to Paul Dabisch, a senior research scientist at the Department of Homeland Security’s biodefense research laboratory is that his initial lab tests show sunlight, higher temperatures, and humidity inactivate the majority of the virus particles on surfaces and in the air within minutes.

This is fantastic news as the country is starting to open up, but for those of us who binge watched Netflix and stress ate all the snacks, it’s going to take some work to fit into last year’s summer shorts. Fortunately, my tried and true Smoothie Shakedown plan is a simple and reliable way to lose that “quarantine 15” pounds in just two weeks—without having to leave your home. Wouldn’t it be amazing to feel confident and even sexy again, by slimming five or ten pounds of belly fat?

Whether you are sheltering in place or out working, shedding those unwanted pounds isn’t out of your reach. The Smoothie Shakedown is designed with two super-charged smoothies and one satisfying meal daily, plus all the healthy snacks you need to keep you going. You can tailor the timing to fit your schedule and even get most of the work done on a “prep day” at the start of the week, by doing all of the meal prep at once and also putting your favorite smoothie ingredients into individual serving containers so you can just add the protein powder and blend. The secrets to slimming down on this plan are easier than you think—and it starts first thing in the morning.

Start Your Day Off Right
When it comes to weight loss, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you skimp on breakfast and just grab coffee and a donut, you're missing out on a golden opportunity to jumpstart your metabolism. Skipping breakfast may feel good at first—and you may even make it to lunchtime—but your sleeping metabolism has to wake up sometime. If you wait too long to feed your body what it needs, you'll be overwhelmed when afternoon cravings for sweets and other junk foods hit hard, leaving you feeling almost powerless against them.

Here's Why We Get So Hangry
That morning jolt of caffeinated java stimulates your adrenal glands, which are responsible for your stress response. This gives you a rush of cortisol and puts you into a state of "high alert" that gets mistaken for feeling energized and ready to tackle the day. But your blood sugar level drops in response, which starts the blood sugar roller coaster of ups and downs all day, which thwarts even your best weight loss efforts, and has your energy lagging and cravings soaring by mid-afternoon.

These fluctuating blood sugar levels not only cause sugar cravings, and energy and mood swings, but also lead to weight gain. So, if you are skipping breakfast as a way to cut calories, you're actually adding inches to your waistline and encouraging your body to hold onto excess fat. You'll only lose those stubborn pounds by waking up your metabolism with what it craves the most—protein.

Power Up With Protein
The best-kept secret for summer slimming isn't found in counting calories, cutting out an entire food group, or in some exotic herb that magically melts off pounds. And while getting up early to exercise at boot camp or sweat off extra pounds on your home exercise bike is admirable—over exercise can trigger cortisol-based weight gain the same way skipping breakfast can. If you want your nutritional supplements and moderate exercise to work together to get you slim and trim, you need protein first thing in the morning. Clean, lean protein powers up your mind, muscles, memory, and metabolism.

According to recent studies, a protein-rich breakfast first thing in the morning causes women to not only lose more weight than women who eat a small breakfast or skip it completely—it causes them to lose it faster. Another recent study gives us even better news—waking up your metabolism in the morning with protein gives you energy and sets you up to burn fat all day long, while giving your adrenals what they need to maintain healthy cortisol and blood sugar levels all day, which keeps cravings at bay and reduces belly fat.

And if all of that isn't enough to convince you that protein is the best way to start your day, then do it for your lean body mass and physical performance—especially as you age. We've been told for decades that older adults need smaller meals and less protein to preserve health, and this couldn't be further from the truth. It turns out that adults at every age need around 100 grams of protein per day to preserve your lean muscle mass, optimal physical performance, and health. Experts now say to aim for 20 to 30 grams per snack, with the only exception being if you have kidney disease or impairment.

The Easiest Way To Eat More Protein
Now that the secret is out that protein slims you down and boosts your energy while fighting off cravings—how do you get enough? Many of us grew up with carb-heavy meals centered around, pasta, bread, cereal, and pizza, making it a challenge to wrap our minds around clean, lean protein-centered meals. The Smoothie Shakedown is a great way to get started, with at least 20 grams of protein in each shake, smoothie, or meal.

With 20 grams of pure plant protein, Fat Flush Body Protein powder is a great way to kick-start every day. This vegan rice and pea blend has one of the highest Protein Efficiency Ratios on the market and is free of common allergens, which is important for preventing belly bloat and "false fat." Simply add it to your favorite Shakedown Smoothie recipe for a great tasting shake that jump-starts your metabolism, mellows your moods, satisfies your hunger, and leaves you feeling energized throughout the day. (Smoothie recipes are available by searching January2020Totalhealth for Smart Recipes—Part 1.)

The Skinny On Staying Slim
The Smoothie Shakedown is a great way to lose a quick five, ten or even twenty pounds. To make it easy—everything you need for a two-week program comes in a bundle you can order direct from UNI KEY Health, which includes the complete guide, slim-stimulating supplements, and the Fat Flush Body Protein Powder. But your weight loss doesn't have to end once the two weeks is completed.

You don't have to go back to the same eating habits that put on the weight in the first place. Check out the New Fat Flush Plan at annlouise.com

Achieving a healthy body weight and detoxing your cells also supports healthy immune system function and helps make you less prone to illness and infection.